'Syrian Army' Clashes with Gunmen in Arsal Plains as Rockets Hit al-Labweh

Clashes erupted on Monday evening between Syrian forces and armed groups in the outskirts of the Bekaa town of Arsal as two rockets landed in and around the town of al-Labweh.

“The sounds of artillery shells and rocket-propelled grenades are being heard in the towns of northern Bekaa due to clashes between the Syrian army and takfiri militants in the Wadi al-Raayan area in Arsal's plains,” Lebanon's National News Agency said.

It earlier said the Lebanese army was fighting the gunmen before correcting its report.

The same area had witnessed “fierce clashes” on Saturday between armed groups and Hizbullah fighters, according to NNA.

Hizbullah has been taking part in the Syrian war for more than a year now, arguing that its military involvement in the neighboring country is necessary to fend off the threat of extremist groups.

The Lebanese group's assistance has helped the Syrian army regain control of most of the Qalamun border region from rebel hands but pockets of resistance remain active in the region.

Meanwhile, two rockets fired from the Eastern Mountain Range on the Lebanese-Syrian border landed near a school in the Bekaa town of al-Labweh as a mortar shell fell in the nearby town of al-Amhaziyeh.

No damage was reported.

Jihadist militants are heavily deployed in Arsal's mountains and militants from the Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front had overrun the town during deadly clashes with the Lebanese army in early August.

The fighting that erupted over the arrest of a top militant ended a few days later but the militants kidnapped around 36 troops and policemen and took them to an area between Arsal's outskirts and Syria's Qalamun.

The battle in Arsal was the most serious border incident since the Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011.

Y.R.